Oregon teen sells $1 million in custom socks

April 24, 2017

This April 22, 2017 photo provided by KATU-TV shows Brendan Agranoff, 17, in his sock factory and warehouse at his home in Sherwood, Ore. Agranoff spends his days going to high school, doing chores and running his custom-design sock business. Television station KATU reports that it's no simple hobby: Agranoff is the founder and CEO of HoopSwagg, and he's already sold $1 million in custom socks. (KATU-TV via AP)

It’s no simple hobby: Agranoff is the founder and CEO of HoopSwagg, and he has already sold $1 million in custom socks.

“I have enough socks in this warehouse to wear every day until I die, and I was like, ‘Wow, that’s shocking,’ ” Agranoff told the Portland television station KATU (http://bit.ly/2paEsF7 ).

Agranoff gets about 100 new sock orders every day for the more than 500 designs that he comes up with himself. He has produced socks based on the Portland Airport carpet, socks with a galaxy theme and even socks printed with pictures of the goats his family owns.

“My ideas, they’re either really random or based on what is happening right now,” he said.

Agranoff came up with the idea when he was just 13 years old, while at a high school basketball game. He spent the next six months researching how to put together the company, teaching himself how to code and the basics of graphic design.

His dad, Brian Agranoff, invested in the business.

“Every day is kind of an adventure really,” Brian Agranoff said. “Never underestimate the power and ability your kids have to do something cool.”

Brennon Agranoff said he works about five or six hours a day after school, but he loves it. He plans to pursue a college education, but he said first he’s going to graduate from Sherwood High School early to work for his company full-time.

The next step for HoopSwagg is to branch into retail with traditional brick-and-mortar stores, he said.